General Manager

Position Overview

The General Manager of the Southwestern Railroad (SWR) is responsible for the coordination of efforts between all railroad departments. This position will directly supervise all departments on the railroad including but not limited to train masters, supervisors, and hourly team members in operations, locomotive, car repair, and maintenance of way. The General Manager also has responsibility for facilitation of dispatching, customer support, finances, and billing.

The General Manager is integral to maintaining the ONETEAM culture by fostering a pleasant work environment, ensuring high levels of organizational effectiveness, and communication.

• Achieve performance goals with optimum safety, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness ensuring profitability of all departments.
• Establish and drive a SAFETY culture with unwavering support.
• Establish operating budgets based on yearly projections.
• Establish methods of ongoing controlled surveillance of both the quantitative and financial measurements. Quantitative measurements will be compared to goals and budgeted financial projections will be compared to actual performance by month.
• Control expenses in all areas of the operation. The General Manager will be accountable to ensure all company policies and procedures are followed by team members in his charge and all are administered fairly and equitably.
• Prepare and conduct performance appraisals for all managers and personnel reporting to him directly and approve all performance appraisals prepared by managers and supervisors prior to review with the personnel reporting to them, to ensure equality and effectiveness.
• Selection, training, and positive motivation of a viable management team to conduct company business and guide manageable and profitable company growth is central to the General Managers responsibility.
• Manage, direct and provide insight and follow up to all departments within the railroad.
• Establish operating budgets from forecasts provided by historical data and department manager input.
• Establish performance goals, quality standards, and monitor both quality and quantity of all facets of the railroad, ensuring profitability.
• Possess sufficient experience or equivalent working knowledge and understanding of all railroad operations, transloading, and knowledge of handling the following commodities:
  Dry Bulk Products, Liquid Chemicals, & assorted hazmat commodities (dry and liquid).
• Manage and ensure a positive relationship between all our customers including but not limited to our Class I partners, freight customers, and other interchange partners.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement all railroad activities, assuring optimum economy while maximizing efficiency ensuring profitability of the company.
• Accountable for asset utilization – routine evaluation of railroad requirements, capital improvement projects to maximize efficiency. Excess assets and facilities will be offered as a revenue source.
• Accountable for the selection, training, and motivation of a viable management team to conduct all railroad business and guide its day-to-day management and profitable growth.
• Accountable for customer satisfaction through personal contact and management of systems providing accurate accountability of car location, car hire, demurrage, receivables, and efficient movements of each car move.
• Accountable for the development, approval, and periodic review of operating procedures for all railroad activities. This area will include all technical, operational, and support functions.
• Accountable for the development of budgets and operating plans that outline departmental budgets and activities, and complement the corporate strategic plan.
• Accountable for the development and adherence to safety and environmental law compliance. This will include adherence to all company policies and procedures in the areas including long term protection from future company liabilities.
• Other duties as necessary. This description is general and illustrative of the type of duties required for this position and is not all‑inclusive.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field…